<p>A long handshake, smiles and a brief conversation between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi offered a striking glimpse of the changing tone in India-China ties.</p><p>The two leaders were seen shaking hands and speaking to each other after the closed-door session for BRICS member countries. The interaction came as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise relations following years of tensions triggered by the 2020 eastern Ladakh border standoff.</p><p>Xi’s presence in New Delhi is significant as it marks his first visit to India in nearly seven years. His engagement with Modi could provide fresh momentum to bilateral ties and cooperation within the BRICS grouping.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://x.com/hashtag/WATCH?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WATCH</a> | Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping shake hands and interact with each other after the conclusion of closed session for BRICS Member Countries, at the BRICS Summit 2026.<br><br>(Video: DD News) <a href="https://t.co/GUOLwpHLLK">pic.twitter.com/GUOLwpHLLK</a></p>&mdash; ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://x.com/ANI/status/2098726272696525070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>From border tensions to renewed engagement</h2><p>India-China relations have been dominated in recent years by military tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).</p><p>However, both sides have taken steps to restore engagement. India and China have moved towards restoring direct flights, easing visa arrangements and increasing high-level diplomatic contacts.</p><p>Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong has also publicly called for greater cooperation between the two countries.</p><p>Beijing would work with New Delhi to “enhance cooperation, properly handle differences” and remain “friends enjoying good-neighborliness and partners helping each other succeed”, Xu said.</p><h2>A different global backdrop</h2><p>The Modi-Xi interaction comes against a rapidly changing international backdrop, with conflicts and geopolitical tensions putting pressure on global trade, energy supplies and economic stability.</p><p>The Russia-Ukraine war continues, while the conflict in West Asia, including the Iran-US confrontation, has added to concerns over energy and global economic stability.</p><p>For India and China, the BRICS platform offers an avenue to focus on cooperation among emerging economies as the wider international system faces multiple disruptions.</p><h2>‘Partners helping each other succeed’</h2><p>The warm body language between Modi and Xi also follows several recent high-level interactions between the two leaders. They have met in consecutive years, including at Kazan and Tianjin.</p><p>Beijing has described their engagement as part of a longer-term effort to manage differences while expanding areas of cooperation.</p><p>India’s Ambassador to China Vikram Doraiswami has also highlighted the possibility of the two countries viewing each other as “cooperation partners, not rivals” and as “each other’s development opportunities rather than threats”.</p><p>The latest Modi-Xi interaction at the BRICS Summit could therefore signal another step in the gradual effort by New Delhi and Beijing to put years of tensions behind them and rebuild engagement.</p>

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a warm handshake at the New Delhi BRICS Summit, signaling a gradual stabilization of India-China ties following years of border tensions.

A long handshake, smiles and a brief conversation between the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the BRICS Summit in New Delhi offered a striking glimpse of the changing tone in India-China ties. The two leaders were seen shaking hands and speaking to each other after the closed-door session for BRICS member countries. The interaction came as New Delhi and Beijing continue efforts to stabilise relations following years of tensions triggered by the 2020 eastern Ladakh border standoff. Xi’s presence in New Delhi is significant as it marks his first visit to India in nearly seven years. His engagement with Modi could provide fresh momentum to bilateral ties and cooperation within the BRICS grouping.

<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a warm handshake at the New Delhi BRICS Summit, signaling a gradual stabilization of India-China ties following years of border tensions.</p>

WATCH: PM Modi-Xi Jinping handshake goes viral as warm BRICS exchange highlights India-China thaw

<p>Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen together while holding hands and laughing during the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The image was posted by PM Modi on social media, and it quickly went viral as the leaders’ “bromance” took the spotlight at the high-stakes event. The display of unity and partnership comes at a time when the world is gripped by uncertain geopolitical conditions.</p><p>This is not the first time the three leaders were captured together. PM Modi was seen holding hands with Putin and Xi last year at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin.</p><p>“Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of the decision-making process. We must transform this ‘pyramid of privilege’ into a ‘platform of partnership’ – one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every effort,” PM Modi said.</p>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BRICS Summit 2026 gets underway in Delhi. <a href="https://t.co/WN7YWi5bTg">pic.twitter.com/WN7YWi5bTg</a></p>&mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://x.com/narendramodi/status/2098724059156791734?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 12, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen together while holding hands and laughing during the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping were seen together while holding hands and laughing during the 18th BRICS Leaders’ Summit in New Delhi. The image was posted by PM Modi on social media, and it quickly went viral as the leaders’ “bromance” took the spotlight at the high-stakes event. The display of unity and partnership comes at a time when the world is gripped by uncertain geopolitical conditions. This is not the first time the three leaders were captured together. PM Modi was seen holding hands with Putin and Xi last year at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin. “Today, the Global South stands in the front row of global crises but in the back row of the decision-making process. We must transform this ‘pyramid of privilege’ into a ‘platform of partnership’ – one where every nation has a voice, every member has a stake, and the development of humanity lies at the heart of every effort,” PM Modi said.

<p>At the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, Modi, Putin and Xi shared a lighthearted moment, holding hands and laughing as the leaders highlighted partnership amid global geopolitical tensions.</p>

Modi, Putin, Xi ‘bromance’ goes viral as leaders captured holding hands at BRICS Summit

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WATCH: PM Modi-Xi Jinping handshake goes viral as warm BRICS exchange highlights India-China thaw

Modi, Putin, Xi ‘bromance’ goes viral as leaders captured holding hands at BRICS